For over a decade, the City of Knoxville has worked to make Knoxville a greener, more sustainable city – one where the economy, environment, and community can thrive today and in the future. Thanks to our forward-looking, pragmatic, and effective approach, Knoxville is a regional and national sustainability leader. We’ve saved money through efficient City operations, improved infrastructure for folks who bike, walk, or use public transit, increased renewable energy capacity, and invested in energy efficiency for our homes and businesses. Jobs in energy and advanced technology sectors are strengthening our region’s economy. We’ve shown that when we advance sustainability, we make Knoxville an even greater city.

Learn more about the history of the Energy & Sustainability Initiative here.

Our Progress

In 2008, the City of Knoxville set a goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 20% by 2020 relative to 2005 levels for both municipal operations and the Knoxville community. We’re on track to exceed our municipal goal, and community emissions are lower in the midst of a growing economy and improving quality of life for our residents. You can read more about our progress of the Energy & Sustainability Initiative in the 2017 Work Plan & Emissions Inventory Update [PDF]

Knoxville is a leader, and leaders always move forward.

We are proud of our progress, but Knoxville
shouldn’t settle for “that’s enough.”

With 2020 around the corner, we’ve set two new
goals for 2030 and 2050 that aspire to unlock bold, innovative action to ensure
a sustainable future that protects our environment while also creating
inclusive economic opportunities and improving quality of life for all our
citizens.

In coming months, the City Office of
Sustainability will lead a variety of community conversations to inform the
development of a plan for how Knoxville can meet these goals.

If you would like to learn more about and/or be
involved in this community conversation, please fill out a short survey here, so that we can contact
you about upcoming opportunities to engage in this planning process.

City Government Leads by Example: 50% by 2030

Emissions associated with City operations are down 15% relative to 2005, and we’re on track to exceed 20% with the completion of our LED streetlight retrofit. We’ve reduced emissions while saving taxpayer dollars and maintaining the quality services our residents expect.

Our new goal is ambitious but realistic. With steady leadership,
the City can make smart, fiscally-responsible investments in new, cost-competitive technologies and operational innovations that achieve deep emission reductions while maintaining high quality services.

Aspiring for Deep Community Progress: 80% by 2050

The Knoxville community’s greenhouse gas emissions are down 11% from 2005 levels, even while population, economic activity, and property values have increased over the last decade. We know that responsible environmental practices can go hand in-hand with economic development and an improved, more equitable quality of life.

Reducing emissions 80% by 2050 is a bold aspirational goal that requires changes to technology markets and energy systems – most of which are outside City government control. But, the City is an agent of change, and by setting our compass toward a dramatically lower-carbon future, we aim to motivate cross-sector leadership from many partners to ensure Knoxville remains a great place for all residents to call home for generations to come.

Being a Sustainable Community Means Addressing Climate Change

Climate change is intensifying many challenges we already face in Knoxville, like extreme heat, extreme storms, localized flooding, air pollution, and pests to people and crops. It threatens our property, our wallets, our health, and places we love, like the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Across the world, millions of lives are at risk. Experts agree: this big challenge calls for bold leadershipto protect our children and grandchildren from the worst effects of climate change and prepare local communities to deal with impacts they already face.